Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Noise, shred, noise, shred, noise, shred. Is it possible to smell music? I could smell this, it smelt like sweaty men. There just seemed to be nothing melodic about it. I can't stand these sort of guitar shredding solos for the sake of it, "OK you can play notes fast, congratulations". Not for me. 2⭐️
This was totally fine but all the songs sound exactly the same. I get why a lot of hardcore sounds like this and it seems fun to play but damn this shit was kind of boring!!
Again, the sort of continually and artlessly loud metal that turns (mostly) dull within a minute, and this one has some cringeworthy emo lyrics to boot.
Meh
Not got long to live and want to make what little time is left to you feel much longer? Then boy do I have the album for you! This short album will make 28 minutes seem like over an hour with this one neat trick: playing the same song over and over and over again. Your early death will seem like a blessing after subjecting yourself to this.
No. 101/1001 Angel of Death 2/5 Piece by Piece 2/5 Necrophobic 2/5 Altar of Sacrifice 2/5 Jesus Saves 2/5 Criminally Insane 2/5 Reborn 2/5 Epidemic 2/5 Postmortem 2/5 Raining Blood 1/5 Average: 1,9 That's too heavy for me. Also was kinda repetitive.
I could appreciate the craft, but it was too loud and too angry for me.
Listened once. Just not my thing. 2/5.
Shouting and playing fast does not make music.
Could see the appeal if I liked metal but not a good experience
This project has enabled me, for the first time, to be able to tell you the difference between a number of heavy metal bands. Slayer is no Metallica. (review blatantly plagiarised from another user - would be happy to give them credit & buy them beer/earplugs as required if at all possible)
nothing about this appeals to me
Not my jam, sadly.
Just because you can play speedy, doesn’t mean you should.
Fun fact, the first known use of the word "cringey" was in 1986. I'm pretty sure it was used to describe this album.
Juvenile
Crap
Every song here basically sounds the same. I'm sure these guys are good if this is a genre you're into, but I'm not, and am rating according to my enjoyment of it.
I get it. I understand why people like it. It is still rubbish though
Man I try and give every artist a fair shake, but gogdamn, this stuff gives me a headache and makes me want to blowup the outside world. Thankfully, when I was debating this thought in my head, I thought of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. Crisis averted. Not for me. Will never be for me. Looking forward to a great concert Saturday night and happy this album is behind me. Will not be revisited. 1
Hyper frenetic tempo throughout, vocals are simply dreadful …. If a zero star were allowable, this would be it ….
This is super not my kind of music. I finished it, but only because it's short. Maybe 1 star, I don't know. Really didn't enjoy this.
Not for me
Iconic, classic. Has one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in the history of metal
"I don't trust anyone who doesn't like Slayer." -- Mike Patton I've listened to this album more times in the past decade than any other. No other album makes me feel heard like this. Someone else is just as fucking angry about everything as I am! Sure, the lyrics are not great. Problematic even. But oh man, the music. Slayer's first two albums on Metal Blade sounded like shit. That sounds mean to say, but honestly, it was the norm! All the rest of the Metal Blade stuff was like that. Just, look, I don't know the story behind that label's recordings, but I can imagine that they were keeping it cheap. For this album, Rick Rubin figured out how to get something that sounded excellent and also different. He also pushed these guys to get faster and faster, recording so the tracks at the edge of what they could perform. The whole album sounds like it's right on the precipice of complete chaos, still super tight, but balanced just so it's leaning a little towards disaster. Dave Lombardo is the key that unlocks this for me, the player here that won my heart. For sure, this thing would not have been possible without this exact combination of people. Not without Kerry and Jeff's weird stylistic mind meld or without Tom's fire spitting. But it's Dave's feel that does it for me. In the 1970's, heavy metal was still rooted in blues, and still had swing to it. Sadly today, swing is essentially gone from metal. But, here, in 1986, Dave is still connected back in conversation with it. Most rock drummers become metronomic up at these tempos. But Dave is able to play so comfortably and so fluidly, that he is somehow gracefully swinging while delivering unparalleled brutality. One of the best moments for me is just past the one minute mark in Raining Blood, when the tempo ratchets up. The guitar parts are complex here, and it's clearly right at the edge of what Kerry and Jeff are capable of pulling off. But Dave is like "this is the friggin' tempo guys", and asserting it by playing on the leading edge of the beat with urgency, bodily pulling everyone forward. But, it's still tight? Instead of coming off like a bunch of players that can't cut it, it sounds like a mortal struggle. Dave's lead against Kerry and Jeff laying back a little creates a weird shuffle/swing feel. Within a few bars, they all converge. Fun fact: when this came out in the '80's on cassette, they took a look at the 29 minute runtime and decided to just lay the whole album down on both sides.
Oh yeah. Can’t wait. I am driving to work with my son in the car. He gets to listen from front to back. I can’t believe reign in blood is almost mainstream since guitar hero. This record changed everything for me. Sound is amazing. Dave Lombardo drumming is absurd. Vocals are evil. I was shocked when I heard it was Rick Rubin that produced this back in the day. Landmark record for the genre. This record never left my rotation. Easy 5 stars.
SLAAAAAAAYYYYYYEEEEEERRRRRRRRR
I chuckle now thinking of how much this record scared me as a kid. The cover is nightmarish, this incomprehensible collage of carnage and blood and flame, and honestly I think it works pretty effectively. I shit on Rubin's conduct and production of The Cult's Electric, but listening to this I almost take back everything I said in that moment, one of the records that made him a household name. Not my favorite Slayer, but essential in every regard.
SLAYYYERRRRRR
9/10
An absolutely iconic record. Top-to-bottom shredder that established Slayer as more than that "cult band" that played dark, heavy metal. It was the first Slayer album to enter the Billboard 200 albums chart, reaching #94 and is consistently ranked among the greatest metal records ever released.
One of the best thrash metal records ever. Pure violence. I love it.
I read the reviews of this album with bated breath. Honestly, I expected that there were going to be a lot more 1 and 5 ratings and not so many 3's. I'm not sure how you fall in the middle on this album. Frankly, I feel like you fall into one of two camps. First camp is the "I don't get this, it all sounds the same, why are they singing about this, oooohhh sooo edgy" camp. The second camp is simply SSSLLLLAAAAYYYEEEERRRRRRR. I was 7 in 1986. I was not listening to Slayer when I was 7. But in 1986, Metallica released Master of Puppets, arguably their magnum opus. Megadeth came in with Peace Sells...But Who's Buying (their magnum opus to come four years later), Sepultura released their first album, Anthrax was in between albums and Testament hadn't gotten started yet. And then here comes Slayer. Listen, Reign in Blood isn't my favorite Slayer album. South of Heaven has always been better in my opinion, and frankly, Seasons in the Abyss could challenge it as well. And it's a shame neither of those made this list. But here's Reign in Blood. An album that lasts all of 28 minutes. And while Metallica and Megadeth were on their way to more melody and structure, Slayer just comes in with furious, double bass drum assault on all your senses and produces arguably one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time. You can't talk about heavy metal without talking about Slayer. You can't talk about Slayer without mentioning Raining Blood and Angel of Death. That transition straight from Postmortem into Angel of Death is iconic. For those reviews that rate this a 3, I almost don't believe them. I don't see how you sit on the fence on this album. Unless you're a diehard metalhead, nobody casually reaches for Reign in Blood to put on for a chill Sunday afternoon. 5 stars for 28 minutes of some of the most influential, iconic thrash metal ever released.
well if this just isnt the best metal album ive ever heard….
An absolute masterpiece. Every metalhead should listen to this album once at least before die.
Such a classic. This album changed my life when I listened to it in high school for the first time, just coming off of hardcore punk. What I love about the ratings is that it creates a perfect stabilized pyramid, meaning that this is as divisive as ever. This recording destroys me to this day. Between Lombardo's booming drums, Araya's menacing vocals, and the evil-sounding, wicked guitar playing of King and Hanneman (still can't my guitar to sound as gross to this day) to themes of horror and carnage in human history, it's simply an incredible effort for its time. Scared? Good. Remember that the content is tongue-in-cheek, though the music is not. I really wish I had seen Slayer live - but, Rubin's production makes it feel like they're playing in my living room, destroying everything in sight. So much fun, and so crazy. I still love this album and the reactions it still gives.
Not even my favorite Slayer album, but an undisputed and awesome metal classic!
Slayer is de Cooler Daniel to Metallica's Daniel.
💯 Speed Zoom Aaaahhhhhh
Another masterpiece. I love that this was right after Taylor Swift 1989. And I love both albums. This is such a great album. Tom Araya’s voice is like no other. It’s still crazy to me that this album is only 29 minutes.
oooooh. oooooooooooooooooooh. I was excited for this. And I was right to be. This is insanely good. I mean- oh my fuck. I’ve never been a gigantic metal fan, but this is easily the best evidence that I should be one. This is just so incredible. The imagery, the riffs… it immerses you deeply into this incredibly hellish world, in a way that’s genuinely affecting and foreboding. It might get old if it were longer but it just isn’t! It’s just- it’s perfect. It is PERFECT. 10/10
Only thing I have to ask is - why is South of Heaven not on this list?
Gear: INAWAKEN Twilight-DS Artwork: ️ 🐐😈🩸 Production: 🗑️🎯🤘 Music: 🫶🦄🌈 Rating: ⛧⛧⛧⛧⛧/5
Guilty pleasure
🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
Surprisingly easy album to listen to on repeat. Hella rad & just keeps going.
Perfect!
Not as good as Metallica, but it’s fuckin Slayer. My son calls it wrestling music so that warrants a 5 from me.
The best thrash metal album ever and one of my all-time favorite albums period. 🤘
Crazy hectic death metal. If you just focus on what the drummer and/or the lead guitarist are doing it will blow your mind. When this came out I wasn't too fond of it. But over time I've really grown fond of the ground breaking style that Slayer pushed into the mainstream. I know this isn't for everyone. Probably not for most. And while it's not my favorite flavor of metal, I still love it.
I love seeing what nerds have to say about Slayer. 666/5
This banged for me, can't believe how much I liked it. The guitar in these is amazing, edgy lyrics that kinda go hard, like the restraint keeping it under 30.
YYYEEAAAHHHGGGGHH
Speed! Power! Distorted but entirely intelligible -- that's secretly the thing that makes Slayer so, so heavy. It isn't drenched in reverb or so distorted that you can't tell what they're playing. What a brutal, groovy, intense record. It's also less than 30 minutes long, so let 'er rip. Absolute top notch thrash. Surprisingly melodic and entirely useful for getting some shit done to. 5/5 a masterpiece of aggression
Great metal album
The thrashiest album that ever thrashed? Yeah, I think it probably is. I love the intensity of this record, and that it never lets up for the 30 minutes or so that it lasts. End-capping with Angel of Death and Raining Blood is the chef's kiss. 4.5/5
Made me sad that my migraine disorder made me skip some of the songs with the wailing guitar. pretty great sounds I used to revel in. The songs I could hear still slayed.
Legendary album, and I guess produced by Rick Rubin, so that's cool. This one got me pumped up, and now I'm going to listen to Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo by Mr. Bungle. This is a 5.
Awesome
This was the first Slayer album I only listened to 5 months ago. I loved it, it was hard and fast, just what I needed at the time I was in a difficult head space
Absolute masterpiece and one of the albums that still holds up in 2026. Not the biggest fan of Kerry Kings solos, but the riffs are undeniably sick.
What this album lacks in memorable melodies and riffs it makes up for in sheer speed and aggression. Quite possibly the heaviest album to be released by the Big 4 of thrash, and it earns its classic reputation big time. Standout Tracks: Angel of Death, Piece by Piece, Altar of Sacrifice, Criminally Insane, Postmortem (really like the fakeout ending btw), Raining Blood Score: SS
Fuck yeah!
Fucking Slayer! An easy five stars. Some of the one star reviews remind of my parents. Turn that noise down! How can you call this music! Back in my day.....etc. Get wreckt, lames. Jeff Hanneman was an absolute monster in the thrash world, maybe seconded only by Gary Holt, who was the clear fill in for Jeff. RIP. I was lucky enough to see him play with Slayer twice. Both shows were absolute mayhem. I was still on the floor when the pit cleared at the end of one of those shows. Blood, sweat, beer,clothing, shoes, a five inch (ish), non-folding blade, and a massive spiked gauntlet were on the floor in front of me. It was a moment of contemplation and wonder to think that I made it two hours in that space. Somehow held my own in that space. Such violence. Such madness. Those shows were in the early 2000's and past Slayer's prime, but it still felt like a gift to participate in it. If you know, you know. Seasons in the Abyss will get a 5+ if it comes up
80s trash metal. Very fast, very hard, very loud. One of most important metal albums. No real melody, loads of screaming. Great music to smash shit to. Couldn’t finish. Can see the merit but too much for me.
опа вот это мы знаем это же отцы
One of the best metal albums of all time
One of the best thrash albums
Pure evil. I love it.
loved this
My album #62 and I think the first heavy metal album so far. Slayer's 1986 thrash debut lifted them up alongside peers Metallica (artistically, though would never reach their commercial success). It's a carnival of intense, frenzied drumming and blistering guitar from the off. Songs about Josef Mengele, human sacrifices, plagues and serial killers, all pretty cheerful stuff really. But it's Rick Rubin's amazing production that sets this apart form other thrashers doing the circuit at the time (of whom there were many). It's maybe not quite as good as Metallica at their very best, but it's better than their debut and one of the best you'll find in this genre, 9/10.
181 La verdad es que esperaba que fuera full tuka tuka todo el rato, pero tuvo momentos interesantes y entretenidos! La intro de Postmortem fue *chef's kiss* y Raining Blood definitivamente estaba adelantada a sus tiempos. La verdad es que estaba segura de ponerle un 4 hasta esos dos últimos tracks, ya, toma el 5 y déjame tranquila.
This is always a fun sprint! :) It's not a party unless slayer is snuck onto the playlist
> the Beatles Obligatory SLAYERRRRRRRRRRR
You won’t like this and you will be wrong though, this slaps.
metallica me la pela
One of the great metal albums of all time. Top Slayer album for me, depending on the day.
SLAAAAYYYERRRRR
Legendary album 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
first time I really listened to it -- actually pretty great thrash metal
Some brilliant guitars and drums especially on Raining blood and Jesus saves. I could hear the sound that would become Machine Head. Loved it!
Are the lyrics edgy to the point of being offensive? Sure. Does it rip tho?? Absolutely.
\m/ (>.<) \m/
It's interesting that we had Prince's Purple Rain and Slayer's Reign in Blood back to back. As it truly shows how eclectic my musical taste is, as whether it Purple Rain, or its Raining Blood, these two albums are easily 5-star albums for me. Granted, I have listened to Reign in Blood 1,001 more times than Purple Rain. Reign in Blood, and Slayer for that matter has been in my opinion, one of the greatest metal albums and metal bands of all time. By far the gods of the Thrash Metal genre. Reign In Blood is the pure example of what 80s Thrash Metal was all about, 28 minutes, in your face, blistering riffs, non stop driving drum blasts, pure aggression, and power lyrics, that are almost a rap or cadence of musical chaos. Angel of Death alone is possibly one of the greatest metal songs ever written. It doesn't matter if I am 16 or 50, but when I put this album on, I am still pumping my fist in the air, and belting out lyrics from memory, and it fires me up, and gets that blood pumping. I mean no matter what genre of music you enjoy. We all have those certain albums that just get us, every song, every beat, every lyric. That is what makes music a wonderful thing. Thank you Tom, Kerry, Jeff and Dave, for making one of those many albums that hit all the right chords in me!
Brief, intense, powerful, and sick as hell.
Just the album that I needed to get through reviewing some reports this afternoon.
I explicitly gave permission to my wedding DJ to play something from this album and he didn't. What a melon.
Finally some heavy metal! The last few albums generated for me have been folksy country - genres i wouldn’t normally listen to. I’ve discovered some gems, but Slayer is already a fave.
My first entry into this 1001 Albums Generator, my first entry into Slayer, and frankly my first entry into thrash metal at large. I had no real idea what to expect going in, other than the gruesome Hieronymous Bosch-esque cover and my pre-conceived ideas of what metal is, and frankly this has blown me away. As a fan of a lot of punk and hardcore this keeps that same ethos of intensity and efficiency, but incorporates theatrical levels of satanic lyricism which I can get on board with. Really book-ended by two incredible tracks in Angel of Death and Raining Blood, the rest of the album on first listens has washed over me in a flood of sheer thundering intensity. Jesus Saves is perhaps the other stand out track that keeps drawing my attention with its slower chugging riffs. But as a whole, this is ferocious, super cohesive and keeps you wanting more. No fat. Very interested to hear other Slayer albums, and other 80s thrash that maybe isn't as hardcore-adjacent just to hear the full variety. Mental to me that this was produced by Rick Rubin and released on Def Jam... what a curveball. I also checked the Tori Amos cover of Raining Blood - weirdly effective.
The best part of waking up is slayer blaring in your cup.
Uno de los mejores álbumes del metal. Increíble año para el heavy: Metallica, Megadeth y este de Slayer, solo faltaba el 87 con el de Anthrax.
Fuck yeah
One of the best Trash Albums and ground breaking in 1986!!
SLAAAYEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my favourite albums of ALL time
My tastes have changed so much as I've got older. As a teenager, I'd have been annoyed by a band taking themselves so seriously and not realising how silly they sound. That's because I took myself too seriously in a different way. Now, I love the ridiculousness, and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Also, knowing they're categorised as thrash and having heard some Metallica, I'd have expected the album to be overlong, drenched in reverb and as fun as waiting for the tumble dryer at the launderette on a sunny Saturday. This is more of a hardcore punk album with better production and the occasional bit of shredding. Not a second is wasted. Instead of lyrics by a teenager who's sick of the police shutting down gigs and taking his beer, the words seem to have been written by a gross 10-year-old boy who's somewhere between his Goosebumps and Horrible Histories phases and getting into Stephen King. It's gleefully gory, rather than self-pitying. It's tonnes of fun. As soon as it finished, I played it again.
Ha, so the algorithm is trolling me now. I bemoaned the travesty of Dylan's vocals in the last album, so they hit me up with Slayer. I'm not going to say that Araya is the greatest singer in the world - he's certainly far from that - and I will happily admit that he's not pleasing to listen to. However, Slayer is not supposed to be pleasant, while Dylan is. Slayer, and this album in particular, are meant to sound like the end of the world. The box is smashed to pieces rather than ticked. I have a love/hate relationship with Slayer. They are a very samey band - you could listen to any song off any of their first, say, six albums and be unable to distinguish them. No musical growth, no discernable progress. But that's not what they're about. They want to pummel you in the face over and over again. What sets this album apart from previous ones is that it does have a handful of standout songs. Songs that actually have an intro and are more than just punk shouting, speed, and thrash playing. The title track and Angel Of Death are as top tier Metal as it's possible to get. Having been a DJ in Metal clubs, I wouldn't get through a night without playing, or being asked to play, at least one of those. To conclude, I fully understand any 1 star reviews this must receive, but in terms of pure Metal fury and pushing the needle forwards for other bands, as well as helping to piss off religious cultists, it's undoubtedly a five star album.
Wow, what a great album, everything works, and literally banger after banger. Controversial content aside (not gonna go into a debate here on whether the controversy is justified or not), the lyrics aren't braindead as they are for some other bands in this genre, and therefore don't subtract from the experience. I think a lot of metal fans have a problem with this album because it's more Hardcore Punk than Metal. To me, it's the best of both worlds, but I can see how someone who has a problem with HC Punk would struggle listening to this. I see this was produced by Rick Rubin, gives me some idea for why he's such a celebrated producer. This guy really understands so many different genres and how to make them work, rather than trying to copy the recipe of genre A and apply it to genre B.
Yessssssssssssssssssssss
One of those albums that will blow your mind the first time you hear it, then immediately compel you to play it again.
What can I really say that hasn't already been said? Not my favorite Slayer record (that title goes to [Album6129]), but that doesn't change the fact that it is a perfect album. So incredibly influential to essentially everything I love in the more extreme fringes of music. Absolute classick. Listen at the volume of 10,000 armageddons or F.O.A.D.!!!!!!!!!!
Blew my mind…
Monarch To The Kingdom Of The Dead 1001 Albums Generator 109 (09/02/2025) What a fucking album. From the cover, depicting goat-headed Satan giving a Nazi Salute with multiple dismembered heads around him and the big pentagram logo in the upper left corner, Reign in Blood hits you before you even click play. And then you are greeted with one of the best metal songs of all time, Angel of Death, which also delayed the release of Slayer's third album due to its content describing the horrors of Auschwitz' "doctor of death". The rest of the album ain't half bad either. Necrophobic is a great underrated song on here that slows down exactly when it should. And god, the ending of Altar of Sacrifice where they repeat that riff and it slows down before heading into Jesus Saves is great. Jesus Saves is itself a personal favorite of mine. I think its slower tempo and incorporation of an odd time signature in one of its riffs during the first half are a great break in pace. Criminally Insane opens the second side with an iconic drum intro that offers a bit of reprieve before launching into more crushing riffs. Finally, the 1-2 punch of Postmortem (another personal favorite) and the closer, Raining Blood, ends the album how it started. It's amazing that this album manages to start and end on two of the best metal songs (and songs in general) ever. I really have no negatives to state here. Yeah, some would say that the guitar solos are meaningless wankery, but I'd like to see you try to play them. Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are some of the most misunderstood guitarists ever imo and their chaotic soloing style is genre defining. The last thing I will mention is the genre of this album. Besides obviously being one of the Big Four's albums that drew lines around what thrash metal could be, it also absolutely inspired death metal, especially early records like Scream Bloody Gore and Altars of Madness that still had some of that thrash influence. I think that Slayer's influence on death metal is often understated, and I do not think that genre would have evolved the same without Reign in Blood. It's my birthday today, and I got one of my favorite albums. 5/5. Obviously. FUCKING SLAYYYYYYYERRRRRR Favs: Angel of Death Jesus Saves Raining Blood Least Fav: Reborn
This was the first ever slayer full album I heard, my first approach tho them was dittohead and it was mind blowing... But when I hear this album, I knew I'd be a fan for life... How can an album open with something like angel of death a close with raining blood... It's just amazing
Epic!
Technically I didn't have to listen to this again, since I know it so well, but I did it anyway. Any excuse, really. 🤘
Супер класика, роки 4 мабуть не слухав. Класний темп весь альбом, гітари іскряться, все дуже щільно. Що ще треба від треш альбому)
Still a masterpiece.
FUCKIN' SLAYER 🤘🔥
This album makes me thirty for beer. Youth album!
While "Seasons In the Abyss" is my favorite Slayer album -- this is a close, I mean close second.
Brutal, magnificent
Ultimate 80s Thrash Metal album. Alltime favourite and it stood the test of time very well. Heavy as nothing else. Saved the life of many, many people back in that time.
Most influential thrash metal albums of all time Blood, Death, Gore and fantastic guitar nothing else needs to be said
Favourite Track: Angel of Death
Of the big albums from the Big 4 of trash, I don't think any of them are as truly uncomplicated as Slayer's REIGN IN BLOOD. MASTER OF PUPPETS has Cliff Burton's melodic sensibilities, RUST IN PEACE has Dave Mustane's smirking sneer, AMONG THE LIVING has Anthrax's general punk stylings... And then REIGN IN BLOOD? Oh, that shit is just brutal man. It's shit that'll smash your face in if you stand too close. Slayer is only interested in one thing: being as fast, as loud and as absolutely pummeling as they can be. These songs feel like they're only barely holding themselves together with how fast they go. Hell, it can sometimes feel like there's hardly even a steady **beat** with how fast things are going. It sometimes sounds like the drummer sounds like he's just freeform bashing away because he can't keep up and that's all he can do. Heck, if the singer isn't gonna try in those moments... And with how the guitars can just squeal over top, it can all be a lot to take in, even with this thing's short runtime of 28 minutes. I mean, I absolutely get this thing's sub-3 average rating. Luckily for me, I'm already a metal girlie, so to me this shit is just fuckin' awesone. Like, for one, let's not act like it's all just rapid-fire bashing and trashing. Sure, that's **most** of the album, but there are breakdowns where they slip into a slower groove with slower riffs, and, yeah, those kick ass; they're great. As for the rest... I'unno, it's just loud and fast and crushing and it's awesome. I don't have any particularly complex reasons for loving this album. The worst thing I can say about it is that it's not particularly an "all the time" kind of album... But even then, that just means when I **am** in the mood for it, goodness **me**, it goes the fuck off. So, yeah, I'unno what the rest of my group is gonna think; I've a sneaking suspicion they might not be as glowing as me... Although I can't really make a good guess one way. But for me, for our first of the Big 4's Big 4... Fuckin' hell, it's a classical of thrash for a reason. Any album with "Angel Of Death" and "Raining Blood", and the absolute assault of songs sandwiched between them, would be. So, y'know, throw up the horns, man. This album rules.
A short, but super sweet album that cemented Thrash as a metal subgenre. Solid 5 Stars.
Awesome thrash metal
My Goodness this album is a relentless sonic assault on the senses. It is hard, fast and aggressive. Utterly frenetic
The sound of hell. Not my thing, but I get it.
Jednostavno remek djelo. Beskrajno inovativan i utjecan album koji je iznjedrio desetke podžanrova
SLAAAYYYYEEEERRRR
Álbum excelente! Obra prima. QoA Vesper.
Metal is a genre best enjoyed live. Much like seeing an action movie in the theater vs seeing it at home, the experience is much best enjoyed when it's big, loud, and overwhelming. My wife doesn't listen to metal recreationally, but she'll go to a live metal show because the thunderous double-bass drum, the shredding guitar, the smell of sweat and beer, the taste of blood, the bruises, and the energy of the mosh pit serve to create the perfect atmosphere for the controlled chaos of the music itself. I imagine ravers who listen to EDM in the car have a similar experience. That said, Reign in Blood is a masterpiece. Raining Blood is an amazing song, but the whole album overall is a master class in thrash metal. If a great grindcore/slasher film were made into an album, this would be it.
Dang, this album is still so good. Although the choice of lyrics and topics are sometimes unfortunate. Hopefully they’re not nazis but people trying to be provocative with whatever they think will get a reaction.
What a gd ripper
One of the most iconic metal guitar riffs of all in Raining Blood push this to a 5.
Ett av världens bästa metalalbum någonsin och extremt välförtjänt att det är med på den här listan. Detta album tog mig igenom svåra tonårsår, tack Slayer! <3
\m/ Thrash Metal masterpiece, an absolute clinic in under 30 minutes of run time \m/
This has been voted one of the greatest metal albums of all time so many times it feels almost clichè. But it really is that good. From begining to end, a metal masterpiece. It hits hard from the opening track, Angel of death, right through song after song of some of thrash metals greatest riffs, through to the haunting opening of Rain in blood. An album most metal bands have never came close to equalling.
Kind of ridiculous, cliché, awesome drums! Would love to scream like that
these guys are metal royalty. easy 5. the raining blood blood riff is absolutely iconic and the rest of the album is just as good
There’s really not much I can say about this album. But I respect the absolute crap out of it for the band’s conviction on what kind of record they set out to make. Lyrically it is designed to offend (I think every form of death is covered in detail across the tracklist). It’s filled from top to bottom with just… PUMMELLING riffs, crazy solos, and unexpected tempo changes. It’s a hella messy album, but that’s by design. I don’t think I’m crazy or out of pocket to make the statement that this album is more punk in spirit than some other albums claim to be. It’s 30 minutes of absolute insanity and then it’s over. I do not mind flinging a 5/5 at this one.
No notes. This slays. Epic. What a great way to end a crazy ass day.
🤘🏻
An all-time classic!! One of the ones that started it all in the 80s!!
What's there to say that hasn't been said yet. A staple record in the thrash metal genre.
Slayer are top, killer album, no question! The drum work is superb, the overall musicianship is amazing. Guitar riffs are bad ass. Particularly like "Criminally Insane".
If you want thrash, this is it. Insanely fast, intricate, and heavy. Like driving 200 mph through hell. Tapped into the depths and unleashed it
Fucking SSSLLLAAAYYYEEERRR
Love it
A great album. Beyond starting a subgenre, it is just filled with great guitars and drumming.
The perfect soundtrack to the apocalypse
Without a doubt this is at least a Top 15 thrash metal album of all time - probably top 5 in the "Big 4" I'm not even that much of a Slayer fan
A much cleaner sounding album than the previous ones, you can tell they stepped up the production on this one. It feels like this album ends way too soon and leaves me wanting more but I kind of like that about it.
Somewhere lying within the fiber of my being, in the deep epigenetic recesses of my DNA, there is a part of me that yearns for a bar-fight, that yearns to swing the hammer of the gods on a battlefield, that yearns to hoist the black flag and commence to slitting throats. I am of Scandinavian lineage, so perhaps it's my long since diluted viking blood bubbling to the surface every now and again. I can't be the only one, either. Maybe all the toxic male masculinity in the modern world comes from our being the descendants of savages. If this sounds like you, here's your LIFE HACK of the day. Don't suppress those urges, bros! Put your headphones in and blast THIS ALBUM on 10 and go for a flat-out run or lift some heavy objects while doing so. For me, it scratches the pillage-itch and I can go back to being the gentle and devoted father and husband that I strive to be day to day. Remember: Slayer + some fitness = a safe and happy Mrs.
Slaaaaaaayyeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!! This album just kicks your ass efficiently for 28 minutes straight. Thrash distilled to its purest essence.
Kicks ass. You all ready know if you like this. And I love it.
Okay I don’t think that we need songs like Angel of Death but hard to deny the album despite it not being my genre of choice.
Metal masterpiece.
Reign in Blood will make you run through a wall with your face, high speed, angry metal. The anger is tempered into fun where instead of bringing you down, it makes you want to move.
Makes you want to push the gas pedal through the floor. Great stuff.
So good I had to listen to it twice. Reign In Blood is easily my favorite Slayer album and something I've listened to for countless of years. It's hard hitting, insanely fast and aggressive. Simply relentless. All the songs follow a similar structure and if you've heard one of them you kinda get how the rest of the album sounds as there's little variation. But as this album clocks in about 28 minutes you'll be doing yourself a disservice not listening to the whole album. It's a masterpiece from beginning to the end. I especially like the transition between Postmortem and Raining Blood but the whole album is filled with bangers.
Slayer це, однозначно, найкращий #thrashmetal гурт усіх часів. А якщо говорити про екстремальну важку музику загалом - то і найвпливовіший. Адже саме їм ми маємо, в першу чергу, дякувати за народження такого жанру як дез метал. Що найменш, без Slayer він звучав би зовсім інашке. Slayer завжди були максимально «щирими» у підході до створення своєї музики. У них ми не чуєм оверпродʼюснутого звучання як це, наприклад, було у Metallica, та вони не намагаються вражати нас технічністю як Megadeth. І якщо говорити про конкретний альбом, що найкраще характеризує Slayer як гурт, то Reign In Blood (1986) - це якраз «той самий альбом». На ньому вони «видали максимум» та створили «есенцію» для майбутнього розвитку екстремальної музики. Звісно, почали вони це робити ще на Hell Awaits (1985). Але він відчувається ще дуже «сирим» та недоробленим. А ось вже на Reign In Blood (1986), не без допомоги блискучого Ріка Рубіна, вони досягли свого ідеального звучання. І що для мене є найбільш феноменальним у цьому альбомі, так це його спроможність залишатись таким само «сирими» та злими як і Hell Awaits, але при цьому мати гарне та «чисте» звучання. Також вражає ідеальний «таймінг» - кожна пісня тут закінчується саме тоді коли потрібно і встигає показати все, що в ній задумувалось. І як на мене, гітарні соло на цьому альбомі, якщо їх звісно можна так назвати, це ідеальний приклад того, якими вони мають бути в треш металі. Проте справжня перлина цього альбому - це його «енергетика». Вона тут, прямо «первисно-агресивна» і знаходиться на піку, який це жанр може подарувати. Адже щоб іти далі та, справді, експериментувати із «важкістю» - потрібно грати #deathmetal. А якщо хочеться більш «сирої» та «холодної» злості, то #blackmetal. І в цьому полягає проблема треш металу, як такого. Для мене він завжди залишався «перехідним жанром» між класичним хеві та спід металом та більш екстремальною важкою музикою. Навіть сучасні, найбільш цікаві треш метал виконавці, постійно інкорпорують якійсь елементи із блеку або дезу в свою музику, щоб надати їй додаткової потужності, атмосферності та цікавості. Є ще шлях більш «прогресивного трешу», але давайте не будемо про погане (пробачте мене Voivod). І цим всім, я хотів сказати, що «справжній сирий треш» на Reign In Blood і закінчився. Він став «фатально неповторним» альбомом, який багато хто намагався копіювати, і у багатьох виходило, навіть не погано. Але при цьому - це завжди було «щось не те». Ніби музично гарно, але саме тих емоцій - подарувати не взмозі. Між іншим, це розуміли і самі Slayer, та не намагались більше робити щось подібне. Той самий South of Heaven (1988) - це вже зовсім інша, в багатьох аспектах, музика. Коротше кажучі, Reign In Blood - це унікальна та неповторна робота, що зробила Slayer справжніми «зірками» мейнстріму, остаточно сформувала жанр і тим самим, фактично, «прикінчіла» йога. І якщо провести аналогію із відео іграми, то я би назвав Reign In Blood - Diablo 2 від світу важкої музики
Powerful heavy rock🤘🤘
Like all metal heads, I adore this album. In my opinion Slayer are the Metallica of heavier heavy metal, and this record is their "Master of Puppets". "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" are two metal staples. That first vocal yell on "Angel of Death" will forever be funny to me and I love how they start this album with such a fast bone crushing riff, only for the first voice sounded to be a bit silly before it gets to his normal singing voice. In most death metal outfits, you can't hear the lyrics that well; they are often grunted, shouted, or screeched through vocal chords into the diaphragm of a $100 dynamic mic. Tom Araya on the other hand actually has a really clear voice with wonderful diction. I love when death metal bands can do this and while you tend to get this a little more often in thrash metal compared to death metal, it's still a treat and always something that I enjoy. Great soloing by Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman (RIP) on this record. It's so chaotic and frenzied and wild. I haven't listened to this record in so many years and it's really bringing me back to being a late teens / early 20's long haired dude and blairing this while partying with my friends. I don't know if a night went by where one of these songs wasn't on the playlist. Hard rate for me. I want to say it's a high 4, but that feels like a disservice to such an important album to the genre. Is there a better thrash album? The best that come to mind are of "Master of Puppets" (although at this point they have shed their true thrash sound for a more "heavy metal" one)... "Kill Em All", Megadeth "Peace Sells...", or "Rust in Peace", Sepultura "Chaos AD"? To me, this album contends with all of those as being "best of the best", so it has to be a 5 for me. I'm writing this part of my review as I'm just getting to the start of "Raining Blood", and it's more clear to me that this is a 5. That intro riff is just so beloved and this song is so perfect for the style. Death/thrash metal struggles often with "catchyness", but here I am not hearing this song in probably decades and I can hum along to every riff, vocal part, and guitar solo. Can't say something isn't catchy if the hook is still in my mouth decades later. SSSLLLAAAYYYEEERRRRR
Relentlessly fast, but knows how to slow it down and get groovy. This album changed my life when I was 14. To the shock of nobody reading this, I was an edgy, athiest teenager and this music made me feel like I wasn't alone in my rural hometown. Slayer's Neo-Nazi imagery has aged poorly, which is unfortunate. What played as transgressive 40 years ago just doesn't work today. That being said, this music fucking rips and paved the way for so much music being made today. Any band that inspires people to literally carve the band's name into their body with knives is legendary in my book.
It’s slayer!
MF’n Slayer.
9/10
Probably the only thrash metal album you’ll ever need to hear Perfection
I'm not the biggest Slayer fan in the world but this is a bona fide classic. A pummeling, nonstop 28 minutes that continuously beats you down, and when it's done, you want to put it back on. Whilst it picks one lane and sticks to it, the brief runtime prevents it from becoming stale, it's a bit like how short a lot of old hardcore albums are - brief, but it serves the music This is absolutely the best-produced 80s thrash album, it sounds fresh and punchy without sounding too sleek and lifeless like a lot of modern metal does This also deserves respect for the massive influence it had on death metal (side note, Pleasure to Kill by Kreator should be on this list for the same reason) and setting such a high bar for thrash metal (along with Master of Puppets and Rust in Peace) that countless bands have been trying to recreate for nearly 40 years A must listen within the metal genre Highlights: Jesus Saves, Criminally Insane, Raining Blood, Piece By Piece
I feel bad to people who can't stand metal, but this album is very influential and important in music history. (Also just because someone screams does not make it screamo or death metal, but it will always be funny when I read these review) This is one of those bands you know the drummer is jacked even if you've never seen him. When I first heard this album I didn't like it, besides angel of death and raining blood. Every song really sounds the same when they play so fast and you dont pay attention, but over the years this album has really grown on me. It is short and sweet and has some great riffs. Like that breakdown in the middle of Angel Of Death *chef's kiss*. Also it is impossible not to head bang to the "your time slips away" breakdown. The angel of death scream is so cool too. The halftime parts in Piece By Piece are great. The Criminally Insane drum groove is criminally underrated. One of the funniest things is that the expanded version of this album on spotify adds one remix and that's it. Some expanded version. High 5.
Possibly the greatest metal album ever. It’s just absolute perfection from start to finish.
Fast, raw, hardcore, with rythym, sounds like a sexual thing but Im talking about the music. Insane display of mastering all instruments. This band is loyal to their roots and they could have gone mainstream and vecone billionares like metallicawhen they went pop rock but these guys are true musicians. Album must be considered one of the top 10 ever metal albums. Only 12 short songs but they are all powerful and the perfect length. Im a fan and this has been a staple of my metal soundtrack since high school back in the 90s.
I’m resisting the urge to just write, “Fucking Slayer!!!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻” To me, Reign in Blood is the best thrash metal record ever made, and maybe one of the best metal records, period. This was metal for punk kids, with punk’s breakneck speed and lyrics critical of religiosity, but adding in the chugs, shreds, and opera shrieks and grunts of metal. Reign in Bloods biggest issue is that its opener, midpoint, and closer stand leagues above the rest of the songs, but that’s only because they’re 3 of metal’s high water marks. Even without them, this is a brilliant and consistently amazing record. It may suggest some of the tropes that Slayer (particularly King) would be clowned for later in their career, but here, they’re innovative and still fascinatingly fresh. It’s consistently intense, and yet consistently catchy, never stopping for a moment. The fact that it still holds up as an intense listen today is a testament to Rubin’s production and Slayer’s compositional ear. Also, I love having my face melted off, so fuck yeah, I love Reign in Blood.
Not my type of music at all but I fucking loved this album. Those drums!! Big as an atomic bomb. Surprised to learn Rick Rubin produced it but of course he did. I also enjoyed that it was less than 30 minutes. All killer no filler (which is probably not on this list but should be #justiceforsum41)
Voor de vorm geluisterd, maar makkelijke 5 sterren dit, al is het maar voor Angel of Death en Raining Blood. Als ik dan toch een puntje van kritiek zou moeten geven: de gitaarsolo's. Die klinken vaak alsof de gitarist ze zelf ook niet zag aankomen en dacht: hooooo ik moet nu snel ineens wat doen.
woooooaaaaaaaaaaaahh
Slayer were always my second favorite out of the big 4 thrash bands - I probably woulda gone with "Seasons in the Abyss" over "Reign in Blood" but it's still a sold pick, so I won't quibble. They really went balls to the wall to push everything OTT - yes, it's very silly from certain angles, but that's part of the fun! I was probably leaning towards a 4 for this, but the specter of metalhead teenage me materialized and demanded a 5 while yelling SLAYurrrrrr over and over again. Fave tracks - "Angel of Death" is an immense opener and a declaration of intentions. "Jesus Saves" is lolz. "Raining Blood" is an excellent closer.... 🤘
This is the pinnacle of thrash. Not a wasted note, not a single moment of respite. Just a brutal kick in the teeth from the first second to its short end. \m/
It's fast. It's searing. It's only 30 minutes. This album is weirdly enough a very accessible thrash metal album. Catchy and DRAMATIC this album is what metal is about. It also features Rick Rubin as producer and while hit or miss these days was incredibly influential in the hard rock and metal scene in the 80's and as such deserves a shout out. This is an absolute essential for a metal enthusiast. Fuck any metal head that acts too good for stuff like this, bitter little bitches. Anyway 5.
Relentless hostility.
See, if you trim an album to just the hardest, nastiest songs, and make it under 30 minutes long, you'll hit gold.
SLAYER!!! SLAYER!!!! SLAYER!!!!! F@CKING SLAYER!!!
#303. While I wouldn't pick this as their best album, I suppose I can see why it would be picked for this as training Blood is probably their most iconic song. But there are plenty of albums on here that are neither iconic nor good, so I dont know man. 5/5: it's Slayer
This is among my favorite albums of all time. It's a masterpiece of thrash metal and at roughly 30 minutes long it almost demands a repeat listen. It's got a punk sensibility that just makes it so good. That said, I don't really listen to this anymore since I gave my life to Christ. I prefer positive music these days. I would be dishonest if I gave this anything less than a 5, but at the same time I encourage anyone reading this to go to the gospels. Scoffers gonna scoff. John 3:16
Very cute.
Lovely.
Easily my second favorite Slayer album. So pumped to see Kerry King next month - early setlists show him playing Raining Blood - and I can't wait.
This was just incredible. I'm more of an atmospheric sludge fan, but this early thrash is something else.
Excellent. Master piece
Absolute must hear if only to understand thrash. Second only to Metallica in sales. Possibly exceeds them in pure hard metal. Yes it’s brutal and fast and difficult. Just like my ex girlfriend. But unlike my ex worth revisiting and you don’t need a jail pass. Even if you don’t like thrash, this is a must hear. Even once.
This album close to changed my life
Hell yeah
Aggressive and relentless album. Araya's voice is a gift to metal music. Darkest of dark subject matter but sometimes that's what you need to see the light.
Buen thrash papi. strong 9/10.
I wouldn't exactly call myself a Slayer fan, but it would be crazy to deny this album's greatness. Short, to the point and enjoyable the whole way through.
Rick Rubin.
What a classic, what a scorcher! End to end a perfect record - tight, fast, furious, dark and evil. My go to record to passive/aggressively signal my displeasure at neighbours’ musical choices - and have a good time while doing it.
Fuck yes, some proper music
Slayer rules, this album is iconic.
I feel a little hypocritical here, because I've definitely given records on here a note of "most of the songs feel the same" and listening with these ears, I feel the same on most of these. Thrashing, heaviness, an occasional Tom Araya scream, into a fast, harmonic-squealing solo. Unfortunately, i'm a hypocrite, and I love this record. I think one thing it has going for it, is that it's a tight, tight 30 minutes. That, and it's fucking Slayer. Favorite tracks: "Angel of Death", "Epidemic", "Raining Blood"
The greatest thing ever conceived by human mind.
Well, it's fucking Slayer. I think that says enough. Definitely one of the best metal albums to ever exist.
great thrash metal \m/
The sound of this album is what I will associate with the genre speed medal. I would qualify it as a defining album of that genre.
green fret, red fret, yellow fret, blue fret, orange fret.
Relentless, punishing, in your face, brutal. I forgot how many times I listened this record. It has been very formative in my appreciation of music and metal in general. Altar Of Sacrifice into Jesus Saves is chef's kiss This album is such an important one for me, but also music in general! Just a fantastic album! I wish the bass was more audible though. Standout tracks: Angel Of Death, Piece By Piece, Altar Of Sacrifice, Jesus Saves, Criminally Insane, Reborn, Epidemic, Raining Blood 9 out of 10
Oh boy. This is gonna be fun. So many great riffs. Amazing metal album.
Legendary. Of course
Fuckin' Slayyyyyyeeeeerrrrr. One of the best thrash metal albums of all time.
For me the best Slayer album
I feel I have to rate this album 5 stars. It is so monumental and has had such impact on metal and metalcore music. Personally, I'd probably give it 4 stars, just for my own enjoyment in 2024, as well as how often I'd ever return to it, but the extra star is definitely earned, as the album does still hold up in many ways, especially in how easily you can hear the impact on heavy music even today.
Somehow still melodic and musical while just going so hard
They are very good at what they do. Not quite my style, but they are very good.
This is a classic album, but probably not suitable for those who don't listen much to metal music. Nevertheless, this album should be known by everyone because it marks a generation and a way of making music.
Burst of energy. Every fast metal band was influenced by this record. It holds up surprisingly well for an old heavy record. Favorite song: Raining Blood.
orginal version 28:55 kuunneltu.. uskomaton levy.. Ei häivähdystäkään epäaitoudesta.m pelkkää ehtaa kamaa..
Out of the gate and never relenting, a brutal onslaught magnifying the worst of human suffering and depravity. A reminder that death is eminent. This set the framework for things to come and set the bar high with drums and guitars that thunder and scream like the marching and wailing of the Harbinger's Mares - Revelation 6: 1-8 Reign in Blood Rips
YAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. ... I will say that after about 20 minutes I was slightly numb from all the thrash. But then you've got the greatest metal song of all time to close out and it's only 28 minutes long. So. YAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
GREAT way to start my morning!
One of the big 4, it's fucking SLAYYYYERRRR! Two of their most iconic songs are on this album, "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood". Fast, aggressive, angry, and shocking. The best kind of metal. \m/
Man what an absolute shockwave of an album in the world of thrash. Raining Blood never ceases to give me chills.
Banger.
The best thrash album ever.
Easiest 5 of my life. Best thrash there is, if you don't thrash then you won't like this album and that's fine so I expect average reviews to be lower. Will I listen to again: 100%
Never gets old.
1986 was a gigantic year for the genre of Heavy Metal, in particular Thrash. This album came out along with Master Of Puppets by Metallica and Peace Sells by Megadeth, two albums which I’m pretty positive are also on the list. Context helps here because Prog was beginning to become the norm in the genre, as those two albums would certainly show. An increase in recording quality and production value came alongside a more adventurous songwriting process and more experimentation. …and then there was Slayer. Although I would personally say I love the two aforementioned classics, this contemporary album from Slayer marks a serious line in the sand where they declare they are sticking to their roots. Sure they spent a lot more on the production of this compared to their earlier releases, but the composition and lyrical content is very similar to the aggression which put all these Thrash bands on the map in the first place. Although big names of the same genre, Reign In Blood has more in common with classic hardcore punk albums than it does with Metallica’s classic of the same year. While Metallica and Megadeth would influence the progressive and experimental Metal movements which would soon follow, Slayer laid the groundwork for what would soon turn into Death Metal and Speed Metal, which admittedly has become more my speed over time. What I should also mention is I believe this is the second appearance in our project of what I’m sure will be several of Rick Rubin (who also worked on Cash’s American IV) as a producer. Rick is great because he knows nothing about writing or playing music, but gives his production advice on what would “sound cool”. Guess what? This album sounds so fucking cool. That brings me to talking about the individual performances, which are great. It’s loose and chaotic, and the production only adds to the impact. Drum hits have the impact of machine guns, ripping through the mix at over 200bpm. Guitar riffs that practically drip with grit and grime form the base for nearly incomprehensible guitar solos to descend from the heavens and commence their attack. Meanwhile, Tom Araya delivers polarizing lyrics with the tone of a reluctant messenger, only breaking from his typical range to deliver alarmingly convincing screams of despair (most notably on Angel Of Death and Postmortem). Look, altogether, if this isn’t a 5 star Metal record I don’t know what is. It’s a runaway train from start to finish with no way off. It’s an uncompromising show of energy and aggression. It’s amazing.
1. Pioneering Speed and Aggression: "Reign in Blood" is often cited as a pioneering album in the subgenre of thrash metal. It's known for its relentless speed and aggression, with most songs clocking in at under three minutes. The opening track, "Angel of Death," immediately sets the tone with its lightning-fast guitar riffs and frenetic drumming. 2. Guitar Wizardry: The guitar work on this album, courtesy of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, is nothing short of spectacular. Their razor-sharp, palm-muted riffs and blazing guitar solos became a blueprint for countless metal bands that followed. The precision and intensity of their playing are particularly evident in tracks like "Raining Blood" and "Postmortem." 3. Tom Araya's Menacing Vocals: Tom Araya's vocals are a key element of Slayer's signature sound. His aggressive and menacing delivery adds to the overall intensity of the album. His lyrical themes often delve into dark and controversial subjects, such as war, death, and the macabre. 4. Impact on the Metal Genre: "Reign in Blood" had a profound influence on the metal genre. Its speed, technicality, and lyrical themes helped shape the thrash and death metal subgenres. Many consider it a cornerstone of extreme metal, and its impact can be heard in the work of bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and countless others. 5. Controversial Artwork and Lyrics: The album's original cover art and some of its lyrics generated controversy due to their graphic and controversial nature. "Angel of Death," in particular, faced criticism for its lyrical content inspired by Nazi physician Josef Mengele. Slayer has defended their use of such themes as a form of artistic expression and provocation. 6. Timeless and Enduring: "Reign in Blood" remains as powerful and relevant today as it was upon its release. Its songs are staples in Slayer's live performances, and the album is frequently cited in discussions of the greatest metal albums of all time. In summary, "Reign in Blood" by Slayer is a landmark album in the world of heavy metal. It's celebrated for its sheer intensity, speed, and influence on the genre. While its controversial themes and graphic imagery have sparked debate, they are integral to the album's identity. For metal enthusiasts, it's a must-listen, and its legacy in the world of music is undeniable.
Exemplary work - thankfully not too long, but exactly what it needs to be and exactly what you'd expect.
Brutal and insane. 5 stars.
SLLLLAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYERRRRRRRRRRRRR
Probably the peak of metal music for me, doesn't really get much better. Album flies through at 200mph, insane riffs and solos. As soon as it's over I just want to listen to it all over again.
oh hell yeah!! 5 stars without even listening yet 😁 I don't know if I've ever listened to a whole Slayer album before. I'm pumped! My only qualm is that it's only 34 minutes long. Oh shit, Raining Blood is on this album! Fuck they're so good!
I own every Slayer album and seen them 8 times live, need I say more
Fun album. The sound seems straightforward on the surface, but it is actually very subtle because it is always different, so I was not bored. The lyrics are so unapologetic they become kind of relaxing.
I honestly can't describe how much this album blew my mind when I first heard it. I thought Metallica was the peak of 1980s thrash metal, and to be fair they are... but my first experience of Slayer was something else. It made Master of Puppets sound like Rush. It gave me that "hory shet, now THIS is fucking cool!" feeling that is so fleetingly rare after about age 8. I've learned the whole thing on guitar over the years (except the solos, bc who the fuck learns a Slayer solo?) and it still fuckin thumps whenever I play it. Including today. 5/5.
When I saw the length of the album in question, I thought: you can't be serious? But, in all seriousness, Reign in Blood may very well be the definition of all killer, no filler. With Angel of Death leading the way in heavy riffage and, let's be honest, somewhat troublesome lyrical imagery, the album pummels with reckless abandon and seemingly endless displays of aggression. It could be said, with no indication of exception, that it is Slayer's brightest moment in the sun; a blood streaked parade that may never be forgotten.
That metal...yeah
A bit of nostalgia for this one. I know the lyrics are cringy (especially since you can understand them unlike later death metal lyrics) and there are times such as tracks 2-4 where the music blends together and lacks a little variety. But the riffs and atmosphere are there, it’s relentless, and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. You can clearly see the major influence this had on early death metal. My favorite part is the Postmortem/Raining Blood finale which is one of my favorite metal songs of all time, and Criminally Insane is underrated. Overall I can’t help but give this 5.
Great album of all time
Pretty awesome. How to not enjoy slayer ? More double kick drum please. Lyrics are ridiculous in the best way.
Очень классический треш метал, но опять же тогда это звучало очень свежо и необычно. Алкоальбом: слэмиться на фесте в кожанках и пить статут
LP
One of the great metal albums
Slayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrr! Kwaliteit herrie en zieke invloed op de metal wereld
Love
Great album, a metal essential
love it
LP
Thrash me. This is a great album! The recording is clean, the guitars are shreddy, Tom Araya sounds like a heavy metal priest.
This album fucks so heavy, the switch ups are so gruelly and reek of pure violence, fills me with primordial rage like no other record
One of the best thrash metal albums of all times.
Any true metalhead has this album.
Construção poderosa do metal
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" -Opening line of "Reign in Blood" if I remember correctly UPDATE: I remembered correctly. This album fucking TEARS. UPDATE 2: This one is an absolute burner. I don't think I've ever noticed that it's almost completely seamless. There's a slight break before Raining Blood kicks in but other than that it's just wall-to-wall insanity. Love it.
Åh fy fan vad fett
As a dyed-in-the-wool heavy metal maniac I'm not giving this any less than five well-deserved stars. This album absolutely smokes. Lots of bands tried to sound like Slayer. Few bands actually sound like Slayer. 'Angel of Death' and 'Raining Blood' are all-timers in the metal pantheon.
One of my favorites.
Holy shit the drummer
This is objectively the best Slayer album. Every song is incredible, and somehow catchy. Everyone after them were just try-hard wannabes.
People are saying it more and more and it's true you hear it a lot that this is the best metal album ever.
This still effing slaps.
Love it.
awesome!
SLAYER
Foundational. Fucking Slayer!
Classic album in the evolution of Thrash and metal as a whole. You can feel Rick Rubin's hands all over this album, funneling the band's aggression into the work, without negating or nullifying the emotion. I understand why it is not for a large portion of the population, but it's critical listening for modern metal. And honestly, even people who know nothing about Slayer know about Raining Blood and "SLAAAAAAYERRRRRR" jokes, so clearly there's been a huge impact. Outside of RIB's obvious power, Angel of Death, Jesus Saves, Piece by Piece, and Reborn are standouts. But it's worth listening to the whole thing. || Shoutout to Ms. Anker's 9th grade English class where I was allowed to play "Angel of Death" as a 'media piece' for my speech about torture...yeah, I was an edgelord, yes I am embarrassed hahahah.
Holy shit. Today is the day I found out I love thrash metal and Slayer! This album is a verified banger from start to finish, But not for the faint of heart or easily offended. Music that challenges norms always deserves credit, especially the controversial stuff-and by golly gee wiz this deserves to be in the forefront.
This is what I wanted Master of Puppets to sound like. I'm know that's legitimate heresy to say, but it's true.
Excellent record from the darkest of the Big 4.
This album fucking slays (pun intended). One of my favorite thrash albums of all time. Great way to wake up in the morning on a day when you've been up since 4am.
Classic!
it's slayer
10 из 10
Obviously a standard by one of the giants of the genre.
Brutal. Love it.
I love every single songs on this album. Definitely their greatest imo
I couldn't listen to this everyday. But this is an example of genre perfection.
This is rad. I really like the hardcore and punk influences throughout. Its heavy and fast and makes me just want to jump into a mosh pit. I really like how the guitar solos sync up and kind of play in unison and also over each other. I don't gravitate to this stuff often, but I totally get how and where it hits.
Slayer 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Relentless
28 minutes of thrash metal! It was great!
that 's good, i love the title track but the guitar and drums are over the top in the other tracks. It must be a groundbraking disk at the time
There are albums that persuade you through emotion. There are albums that persuade you through ideas. This one persuades through sheer force of execution. I spent much of Reign in Blood arguing with it. The lyrics often feel more interested in horror than understanding, more concerned with presenting atrocities than interrogating them. Jeff Hanneman was many things, but a profound lyricist he was not. Again and again I found myself thinking, “Yes, we know. Mengele was bad.” And yet the album kept winning the argument. Partly because the musicianship is astonishing. Not in a showy, progressive-rock sense, but in the way an Olympic performance is astonishing. The speed is one thing. The precision is another. The real achievement is that it never sounds like a technical exercise. Beneath all the violence and apocalypse, Slayer groove. My head was nodding. I wasn’t expecting that. The other revelation was Tom Araya. For an album with a reputation for extremity, the diction is extraordinary. These lyrics aren’t buried in the mix. They’re delivered with the clarity of a man determined that every word will arrive on time. As somebody who has spent time singing, I found myself increasingly admiring the logistics of the performance. The quantity of language being delivered at those tempos is remarkable. What really impressed me, though, was the economy. By the halfway point, songs were beginning to feel like three songs compressed into one. Riffs appear, establish themselves, and disappear before they can become familiar. Nothing lingers. Nothing is wasted. The whole record feels like a fax machine transmitting information at maximum speed. Not simple. Compressed. And that’s where the album’s greatness lies. Slayer don’t stumble towards a thesis. They decide upon one and execute it with frightening discipline. Every decision serves the same objective. The production. The sequencing. The brevity. The complete absence of filler. There isn’t a saggy track on the album. I still don’t think the lyrics are particularly deep. I still wouldn’t choose this world over many others. But by the end I understood something important: this isn’t a great thrash metal album because it’s extreme. It’s a great thrash metal album because it’s ruthlessly, almost unbelievably, effective. I shouldn’t really like it. But sometimes craftsmanship leaves you with very little choice. It’s Slayer - Reign in Blood.
Landmark Trash album, really fucking cool and edgy and loud. It's all a bit much, but I guess that is part of the charm. There are times where I like it more than other times. I would've easily given this 5 stars other times but guess I just wasn't really feeling it. Can't really fault the album for anything, Slayer is just a bit of a divisive band.
Pretty good half hour tour of hell! Nazi doctors, condemned witches, burning and/or tearing flesh, blood showers. All the highlights are here, everything you want to see in Satan's domain. Tour guide seems to really know his stuff. Maybe a concerning fixation on Nazism, but dude sure can shred
Out of the big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Antrax, Slayer) Slayer were always my 3rd favourite. This is likely due to the fact that Metallica and Megadeth are alot closer to the heavy metal side, and Slayer and Antrax are alot more pure thrash metal. This album is very much pure thrash. The riffs are great, and the drumming is impeccable. The thing that never clicked with me was Kerry King's guitar solos. He's actually a good player it's just he plays his solos like hes never picked a guitar up before for some reason.
i loved this!! very fast and heavy... it was awesome well-produced too and I appreciated the length, short and sweet. some songs sounded very similar to each other, but towards the end of the album it got a bit more diverse i don't always have the energy to listen to something like this but next time i feel like listening to something very fast and loud i'm gonna put this on... good discovery for me
:)
Literally loved this, I need to try more of their back catalogue
Love it as something to play in the background. I like thrash but I wouldn’t go out of my way to actively listen to it.
Pretty good thrash metal. Very accessible for new metal fans but the only gripe is that I feel like this album has influenced a lot of substandard thrash and death metal which are completely inferior compared to this 8/10 Favourite: Raining Blood Least Favourite: Necrophobic
No nonsense, tight, heavy. Everything needed from a solid thrash record. Big fan.
Ja dit is gewoon cool tbh, zeker in 86
Angel of Death - 5/5 Piece by Piece - 4/5 Necrophobic - 4/5 Altar of Sacrifice - 5/5 Jesus Saves - 4/5 Criminally Insane - 4/5 Reborn - 3/5 Epidemic - 3/5 Postmortem - 5/5 Raining Blood - 5/5 Average score: 4.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Voy a escuchar esto a las 7 de la mañana para domar a la fase lútea.
Damn I was pretty surprised how much I enjoyed listening to this. It's tight and heavy and brutal, but also weirdly elegant. Metal even a punk could like.
What's Rick Rubin doing here?
neat
Produced by Rick Rubin, Reign In Blood is rightly considered a thrash metal classic. I like my metal either slow and gloomy or fast and lean, and Reign In Blood is a prime example of the latter. 9/10
Just relentless from beginning to end. Absolute ripper. Doesn’t outstay its welcome too with its concise thirty minute runtime. Excellent guitar work and riffs. Favorites were Angel Of Death, Altar Of Sacrifice, Postmortem, and Raining Blood.
No soy fan del metal y cualquiera de sus subgéneros. No me llama la atención nada y lo veo como puro sonido. Pero por alguna razón este album es brutal y escucharlo sentí que no escuchaba a las bandas que debía de escuchar. Muy probablemente me va a volver fan del metal en el futuro, a ver que otro albumes salen
This is one of the few thrash albums that isn't Metallica (I'm not a metalhead) that I've heard, it's not too bad of an album. One thing that is very much apparent is the tempos, that are EXTREMELY fast, like holy hell! You can definitely hear the hardcore influences, the songs punch you right in the face and by time you've gotten yourself together the song just ends, and you end up wondering what on earth just happened. The guitar riffs are very mean and menacing as one would want from a thrash album. I particularly like the riffs in "Raining Blood." The lyrics in that song is my favourite of all. "Pierced from below / Souls of my treacherous past / Betrayed by many / Now ornaments dripping above" The lyrics on the album are beyond comical. Kerry King and the gang aren't trying to be people they're not and they just get straight to the point with the devil-worshipping, doom and despair lyrics. In conclusion these guys seem real mean and they seem like bad influences but this music is cool as hell, it's a perfect album for people who feel misunderstood and just wants an album that packs a punch. Highlight Song/s: "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood"
I knew Slayer would be a band that I liked. Not my favorite, not the most original, but a solid metal album.
Hardcore and metal from the start, this album ends as loud as it started. From fast groovy riffs to rhythmic drums, this album was a blast to listen to and has overall great energy. 8/10, Favorite Song: Angel of Death
One of the greats!
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It is a kick in the pants and doesn't let up. Glad it was only a half hour long. Don't think I would have enjoyed it much longer than I did.
Interesting. Last record was Metallica’s Master of Puppets and today this better record from the same year appears. Where Master of Puppets fails, Reign in Blood succeeds. The distinctions between the two highlight what, over time has become obvious but wasn’t immediately apparent upon release of both records: Slayer consolidated the sounds that would become thrash. No reverb, short fast songs, pure fucking energy, clean punchy and in time. I think that given the tempo changes throughout the record with sections of high tempo playing with each instrument in synch is simply amazing. Gone is the sludge of the first two Slayer records replaced by a clean recording with a great guitar tone. Also notably, unlike Metallica’s lengthy repeated riffs throughout the song, these songs minimize the repetitive passages which makes each song much more interesting and enjoyable. I still play this record fairly frequently unlike Master of Puppets which doesn’t get the same love. Lyrically, Slayer still has it’s fascination with Satan still intact ( Alter of Sacrifice ), Jesus Saves is definitely catchy and in my mind one of the best tracks on the album. Angel of Death is a fucking sledgehammer. Taken as a whole, the record still rocks. Not because they’re are thousands of bands who perform this stuff, but rather, because the production is uniformly exceptional at a time when most of the records on this genre were terribly Lo-fi. Very good record though not perfect. 4/5
Not my genre at all, but I appreciate what they’re doing here.